Our exterior lighting was looking a bit tired, as shown by the small fixture outside the back door of our garage (ignore the grimy green brick — that corner definitely needs a good scrub).
The door itself is a little rough around the edges. We recently removed a rusty storm door that used to bang loudly, so our next steps are to repair the trim and prime and paint the door white to match the veranda door we already updated.
Back to the light: it was small and weather-worn, so we decided to upgrade. Picking the right fixture took longer than expected — we don’t shop for exterior lights often. After checking local stores and big-box outlets without finding a standout option, Sherry searched online. After about an hour of browsing (and two browser crashes from having too many tabs open), we narrowed it down to eight contenders.
- Black lantern — affordable and classic
- Seeded glass lantern — adds texture
- Transitional outdoor wall lantern — simple and clean
- X-Lantern — budget friendly
- Bronze cross-sconce — rustic vibe
- Bronze lantern — compact and sleek
- Antique copper wall light — beautiful but over budget
- Another bronze lantern — mid-price option
The mood board didn’t produce a clear winner. We revisited the lighting aisles at Home Depot and Lowe’s and discovered Option #1 was on sale. It had been my favorite from the start — it’s large, has presence, and was among the more affordable choices. Sherry liked #6, but it was noticeably smaller. After a brief debate, we bought the black lantern.
Installation was straightforward:
- Step 1: Turn off the power.
- Step 2: Remove the old fixture, noting how the wires are connected (take a photo if it’s your first time).
- Step 3: Connect the new fixture to the same wires.
- Step 4: Tuck wires into the backplate and secure the fixture to the wall with the supplied screws.
- Step 5: Turn the power back on and confirm the light works.
Installation went smoothly, and the new light is a clear improvement — even if the door and green wall still need work.
To show the difference in scale, here’s a side-by-side with the old fixture. The new lantern feels much more substantial and gives the entry more visual weight.
We prefer outdoor fixtures with a strong presence, and this lantern fits the bill. Imagine this setup with a freshly painted door, cleaned brick, a welcome mat, and flanking plants — it will look even better once those updates are in place.
This shot highlights the fixture’s traditional shape, which complements our house. We considered using similar sconces on the veranda posts but they didn’t look right when we held them up, so we’re still searching for the right fixtures for that space.
One evening while photographing the new light, I opened the door to find a small group of deer lingering outside. They scattered but didn’t go far, and even made an appearance in my photos.
Apologies for the sidetrack — back to the lights. We also replaced a wall fixture above the garage. That fixture was small and showing its age, so we purchased a matching lantern for that location too.
While the new garage light is a definite upgrade in finish, it doesn’t read as large against the broad brick wall and double garage doors. We plan to paint the doors black or charcoal, which should help the fixture stand out more.
We’re a bit torn: keep the garage light for now and reassess after painting and adding other exterior elements, or return it in favor of something larger. The light we chose is about 19 inches high; during our search the biggest option was only 20 inches, so we may need to explore different styles or custom options if we want something truly oversized.
What would you do? Keep the garage light and wait until other updates are done, or return it and keep searching for something with more impact? We’d love suggestions for other places to look beyond local lighting shops, Lowe’s, Home Depot, and the larger online retailers.